Power, Charge Play To 0-0 Tie
June 11, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
New York Power News Release
Uniondale, NY - The New York Power and Philadelphia Charge played to a 0-0 tie at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY. Saskia Webber recorded the shutout for the Power, while Melissa Moore did the same for Philadelphia. The teams combined for 17 corner kicks, nine for the Power and eight for the Charge.
Webber made five saves, colleting her second shutout in as many starts. Moore had to make only two saves on the night, collecting her first shutout of the 2003 season.
The Power's best scoring chance came in the 31st minute. Tiffeny Milbrett collected the ball on the right side and sprinted past a Charge defender toward goal. She played a cross into the box to a streaking Tammy Pearman. Pearman beat an on-rushing Moore to the ball with a defender on her hip. Pearman managed to get a shot off, but her attempt to loop the ball over Moore went high over the goal.
Marinette Pichon led the Charge offense with five shots, including three on goal. Her best scoring chance came in the 36th minute. Melanie Hoffmann played a cross into the Power's box to an open Pichon. With defenders moving toward her, Pichon got off a scissors-kick, but a diving Webber was up for the save.
Webber came up big for the Power in the 42nd minute, when she raced off her line to beat a wide-open Hoffmann to a ball in the Power's box. The Charge had a three-on-two with Stacey Tullock dribbling at the Power defense. The Power decided to cover Pichon on the left flank, leaving Hoffmann open on Tullock's right. Tullock played a ball to Hoffmann, but Webber read the play well avoiding a shot on goal.
The Power have now posted two consecutive shutouts, a feat the team has only managed twice in their history. The Power recorded back-to-back shutouts the first two games of the 2001 season.
With the tie, the first in 26 games for the Power, they move into a fourth-place tie with the San Diego Spirit. The San Jose CyberRays, who the Power beat 2-0 last weekend, will pay a visit to Mitchel Field this Saturday evening.. The Charge head back to Philadelphia where they host the San Diego Spirit on PAX TV this Saturday at 4 p.m. (EDT).
Post-game Quotes:
Power Head Coach Tom Sermanni: "I thought what we did in the second half well was we never let her (M. Pichon) to get in behind us. However, the trade off for that was I think we played a little too deep in the second half."
"We have been couching up a lot of goals this year, so we have been working pretty solidly on our defense. It has been an emphasis of ours and I think the team did a good job defensively tonight."
"As I have said before, even though the change was made to start Saskia, its not so much a reflection on Carly (Smolak) as much as it is a testament of how hard and how well Saskia has been playing. She has come in and she has really stepped up."
Power Midfielder Shannon Boxx: "Philly plays a style where it slows the rhythm of the game down. By them doing that they really changed the way we usually play the game."
"The defense has really stepped up and really started to work together. The defense has really helped us stay even with these last two games."
"We have a lot of games this month and as long as we make sure we make some points like we did tonight, that is a good thing. We stepped up and we gained another point today."
Power Forward Tammy Pearman: "We will have three games in six days, so we would like to come out of this week with at least three points. Ideally we would like six or seven, but that's what we are looking for."
Power Goalkeeper Saskia Webber: "I was a little nervous, like I think anyone would be coming into the starting role this deep into the season. But I play with these guys ever day at practice, so we know each other very well."
"Today was going to be a one goal game either way and in the past, like last year for instance, we might have lost that game 1-0 in the 88th minute."
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 11, 2003
- Power, Charge Play To 0-0 Tie - New York Power
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